Born in 1935 in Darlington, Indiana, Gray received an engineering degree from Purdue University, but found his life's work in documenting political violence as a filmmaker. He was a cofounder of the Chicago-based Film Group, a pioneering collection of documentary filmmakers whose works included "The Murder of Fred Hampton," the Chicago Black Panther leader gunned down by police in 1969. Gray's iconic coverage of the police riots at the 1968 Chicago Democratic convention were seen around the world.

Gray moved to Los Angeles in 1973, where he expanded his creative endeavors to include screenwriting credits for four-time Oscar nominated "The China Syndrome" and other films, for episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," as well as a number of books. His written work addressed issues such as the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island and the use of the death penalty, as well as drug reform. In addition to "Drug Crazy," Gray returned to the issue of drug policy with "Busted: Stone Cowboys, Narco-Lords, and Washington’s War on Drugs."

Gray won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Drama and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and for the BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay.

Your reporter conversed briefly with Gray at the California NORML conference in January. He didn't appear to be in ill health; his death comes as a shock, if not a surprise, given his age. He will be missed.

Mike Gray passed yesterday... he was working when that great heart just stopped and so, one of the dearest, most generous and brilliant among us has gone ahead to pave the way... Mike was my first mentor and constant friend for nearly fifty years - when I wrote my last little book, it was only Mike's review I wanted - and being Mike, he came through with one I didn't deserve.

Mike has always been the funniest, most kind, attentive, nurturing, loving supporter and friend for nearly half a century. He was a brilliant human being who never lost sight of the goal and never stopped working to make this world a better, more reasonable place.

Mike, you are loved, you are missed and above all,you are treasured for having shared your vision, your talent, your time and your heart with all of us who gloried in riding your wake... safe travels dear friend, safe travels and endless thanks...

What a great and even noble man! Mike Gray, who is no relation to me, but nevertheless I always called him my brother, was one of the genuine leaders of positive reform, including drug policy and the death penalty. And given his great talents and earned connections, he was one of our most effective.

Mike, my brother, we benefited enormously because you were with us, and you will always be so in our hearts!

in 2005, Mike approached us about putting together a LEAP video since so many of the members would be at the DPA conference in Long Beach. We quickly put together several engagements around LA and worked out taping times in and around the busy DPA conference schedule. The result was one of the best videos of the reform movement and which has been distributed to tens of thousands and seen by many thousands more, all thanks to the brilliant work done by Mike. No matter where or when I ever saw Mike, he would reach out to me and briskly shake my hand, focus in on my face and listen intently to anything I had to say. I was never his equal but he always made me feel like I was. What a giant.

Those who are the best among us shape our worlds in ways that are both profound and pivotal. They make us better people. For me, Mike was a great listener, empathetic and non-judgmental. In listening, he seemed to understand, and in understanding, I came away wiser than before we spoke. I will miss my colleague, my mentor and my friend. Thank you, Mike (mg), for, well, everything. mj

Mike Gray was a true visionary and one who understood much of what needs to be done to bring an end to the debacle we call the "war on drugs."

Had some of the ideas and philosophies Mike supported actually been implemented, we could easily be looking at a world that had returned to embracing the rapidly eroding concepts of sanity and individual liberty in this country.

Rest easy Mike. Many of us are still fighting the good fight to carry on your gallant and impressive efforts.

The big problem is all the people , from gangs, to the DEA - the Judges , the court officers the Prison guards the Cops will all out of a job and out of jail - Mass unemployment on top of more mass unemployment . Now you see how Fucked up our old senile government officials are . Do yourself a favor and everyone else, almost always vote for the youngest person you can - not for someone with gray hair . Your Uncle Sam has been dead at the wheel for quite some time ......

Just asked my grandma why marijuana was illegal. She said "Because it makes people crazy". That shows how much propaganda and ignorance has influenced the public to believe it's a bad "drug" when really its just a plant that has awesome side effects.